Chris Rock had a rare reunion with his ex-wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, over the weekend to celebrate their daughter's college graduation. The couple, who had a contentious divorce in 2016, were on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC) as their 21-year-old daughter, Zahra, graduated with high academic distinction and received her bachelor's degree in English.
Proud Parents Share Joyful Moments
Compton-Rock shared photos of the new graduate beaming with both of her parents in an Instagram post on Monday. 'Congratulations, Zahra! Your mom and dad, and your entire family, are so proud of your extraordinary academic achievements,' she began her caption. Compton-Rock noted that it was her daughter's 'lifelong love of literature' that inspired her to pursue a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in narrative studies. 'Celebrating your accomplishments over these last few days is a memory I will cherish forever,' Compton-Rock continued, thanking extended family members for their support.
A Mother's Pride
'Zahra, as your mommy, I know how hard you worked and how deeply dedicated you were to your studies. I don't know if I told you enough, but reading some of your papers left me astonished by your ability to synthesize complex literature with such insight and depth,' Compton-Rock gushed. 'I cannot fully express how proud I am of the brilliant, thoughtful, compassionate young woman you have become. Watching you walk across that stage was more than a celebration of academic success, it was a reflection of your perseverance and your beautiful spirit.'
Family Celebrations
Among Compton-Rock's photos was a close-up of Zahra's red-and-gold stole indicating she graduated magna cum laude from USC's School of Dramatic Arts and the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. Zahra posed for several photos with family, including a shot with just her parents. Rock, 61, opted for a casual-cool workwear look featuring a blue jacket with patches from H. L. Wilcox Technical School's carpentry program and an embroidered name patch for 'Brian,' possibly to go under the radar. However, he dressed up in a black pinstripe suit for a nighttime event at the football stadium. Compton-Rock, a former PR specialist turned philanthropist, wore a light-brown dress with a cream-colored jacket during the day and a golden ruched dress for the evening.
Background on the Couple
Rock and Compton-Rock tied the knot in 1996 after meeting two years earlier at the Essence Magazine awards. Compton-Rock, then a publicist, was working the event when Rock crashed the ceremony. They were together for 18 years before Rock filed for divorce in December 2014, which was finalized in 2016. In his 2018 stand-up special Chris Rock: Tamborine, the comedian admitted to adultery and a pornography addiction during the marriage. 'I was not a good husband,' he said. 'I was addicted to porn. I know, billion-dollar industry, just me, right? I was addicted to porn and, you know, I was 15 minutes late everywhere.' The former couple shares Zahra and daughter Lola Simon, 23. Compton-Rock is also mother to daughter Ntombi, whom she adopted from South Africa.
